Collapsible boat



Sept. 19, 1950 M. D. WAYNE COLLAPSIBLE BOAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept15, 1947 J s INVENTOR. Way/7e ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1950 M. D. WAYNE2,522,910

' COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Fi le d Sept. 15, 1947 a Shets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

570/10 0. I/ayme Sept. 19, 1950 M. D. WAYNE COLLAPSIBLE BOAT 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1947 a INVENTOR. Wary/)7 Q. M ay/M JATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLEBOAT Marvin D. Wayne, Galesburg, Mich. Application September 15, 1947,Serial No. 774,008

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in T collapsible boat.

, to facilitate erection of the boat.

Third, to provide a novel shell or skin for a collapsible boat which isprovided with integral longitudinal slats for stiffening the shell andthe boat and which may be folded longitudinally and rolled transverselyinto a small bundle when collapsed.

Fourth, to provide a cover for a collapsible boat with sectionallongitudinal stiffening members and foldable reinforcing flaps havingslats arranged to bridge the space between the stif-' fening members inthe cover when the cover is extended.

Fifth, to provide a framework for a collapsible boat in which thevertical ribs, including the stem and stern frame, are permanentlyconnected together by flexible belting to prevent loss or misplacementof any of the ribs and to facilitate erection of the frame with the ribsin properly spaced relationship.

Sixth, to provide a framework for a collapsible boat with flexibleconnecting members arranged to locate the several parts of the frameworkin proper erected position and to receive sectional gunwale members forstiffening the gunwales of the boat.

Seventh, to provide a collapsible boat in which the main longitudinalstiffenin members including the keel and gunwales are collapsible intoshort lengths so as to be conveniently packed and carried. 7

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the details and economies ofmy boat will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription and claims. The drawings, of which there are three sheets,illustrate a preferred form of my boat.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my. boat in erected position, portionsbeing broken away to illustrate details of the framework and stiffeningmembers.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view A through the framework ofmy boat in partially erected position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stern portion of theframework of my boat as viewed from the front of the boat.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view along the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary cross sectional view along the line 4A-4A inFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stern of my boat inerected position and partially broken away to show details ofconstruction thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the inside of theshell of my boat and illustrating the arrangement of the longitudinalstiffening members on the shell.

Fig. 7 is'a fragmentary perspective view of boat in partially collapsedposition.

' Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connection between theribs of my framework and the connecting keel belt.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary outside elevational view of the gunwale portionof the .frame of my boat and partially broken away to illustrate detailsof construction of my sectional gunwale.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the car lock assembly for my boat.

My boat is most practical when manufactured in relatively small sizesfor the use of fisherman and sportsman but its construction is adaptableto any size of boat. In the drawings I have illustrated a small rowboatarranged to carry two passangers and provided with a center seat i andstern seat 2. The boat consists of an outer shell or skin 3 secured overa collapsible framework 4 which is held in rigid shape when erected by afolding sectional keel 5 and sec- 7 tional gunwales 6. Interleavedfolding foot boards I are provided for the bottom of the boat and oarlocks, generally indicated at 8, are arranged to receive cars for rowingthe boat.

Considering first the construction of the framework of my boat attentionis directed to Figs. 2, 3, 5 and '7 to 9. The principal'body formingmembers of my framework are a series of U-shaped ribs 9', a curved stemor prow member Hi and a stern frame- II. The ribmembers vary in size toprovide the desired shape to the boat. They are connected at theircenters by a keel belt l2 of flexible character permanently secured bythe rivets I3 to the bottom of each rib. The forward end of the belt [2extends forwardly along the front of the stem [0 and The belt i2 is offlexible character so as to be easily collapsed permittin the severalframe members to be nested in a small bundle. The belt [2 is relativelynon-elastic so as to limit the spacing between the ribs in their erectedposition and'I prefer to make the belt l2 of heavy fabric material.

The upper ends of the ribs 9 and stem II] are connected by a gunwalebelt It of flexible material similar to the keel belt l2. belt [6 is ofhollow tubular shape as is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 andhas secured thereto the downwardly opening pockets ll within which theupper ends of the ribs 9 are permanently secured by the rivets l8. Thepockets I! are conveniently secured to the gunwale belt 36 by stitchingbefore the gunwalebeltis sewed into tubular shape. The gunwale belt Itextends continuously around the front of the stem l0 and is securedthereto by a strap or stirrup l9 (see Fig. 2). The rear ends of thegunwale belt l6 are folded around the back of the stern frame H andrivited thereto as at (see Fig. 5) so as to provide an open end to eachside of the tubular belt.

.The stem member ID of the framework is curved to provide a verticalprow portion and a generally horizontal keel extension 2! which extendsrearwardly over the center of the forward rib member .9 whenin erectedposition. The keel extension 2! carries a rearwardly opening channelbracket ,22 arranged to receive the forward end of the sectionalmainkeel 5 and the main keel is notched along the under side of its forwardend to have a rabbeted engagement with the keel extension 2|. The rearend of the keel extension 2] is longitudinallyandvertically slotted asat 23 (see Fig. 2) to receive the bolt 24 carried by the forward sectionof the .keel 5 to cooperate with the channel bracket 22 in preventinglateral displacement between the keel and stem Thebottom cross member [5of the rear'frax n II is provided with a forwardly opening channelbracket 25 arranged to receive .the rear end of the keel 5. The rear endof the keel carries a depended lug 26 engageable with a slot in thelower flange of the channel bracket 25 to prevent lateral displacementof the keel member relative to the stern frame. I provide a pin on theforward end of the keel which is engageable in a hole in the web of thechannel bracket to further interlock the keel and keel extension.

The upper cross member Zlof the stern frame pivotally supports the bracebars 28 which are arranged. to be swung inwardly and connected to a bolt29 by the wing nut 30 when the frame is erected. The angle braces 28 maybe of wood or metal construction but I prefer. to use wood braces withsuitable metal attaching clips .on each end thereof. The angle braces 28are provided with brackets 3| on their inner sides which are arranged toengage and support the rear edge of the rear seat 2. The rear seat maythus be made of two panels hingedly connected with one of the panelsnotched to fit over the keel 5 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The keel 5 is of the-sectional jack-knife type having front and rearsections pivotally'secured between the spaced side pieces of' the centersec- 7 tion 32 so that the keel may befolded into a short body. When thekeel is extended in the framework in the, manner illustrated in Fig. 2it will stretch the keel belt [2 to taut position to prop- The gunwalegunwale.

4 erly locate the several frame members 9 and stem Ill and stern frame l1.

After the framework has been erected on the keel 5, sectional gunwalemembers 33 having a relatively thin, slat like shape are pressed orpushed through the openings in the rear of the gunwale tubes l6 asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The rear ends of each slat 33define vertical slots 3H for receiving inwardly turned flanges on theends of the tongue clips 35 secured to the next succeeding section ofthe gunwale. A sufficient number of sections are pressed into each sideof the gunwale tubes to form a complete gunwale along each side of theboat and complete the stiffening of the framework.

The cover or skin 3 for covering the framework is preferably madeofwater proof canvas or fabric .of thedesired weight and is shaped to fitthe framework with sufiicient material along the edges of the skinto'lap over the gunwales as at 36. A rear'fiap is provided at El and apocket portion 38 is formed at the prow of the skin-to fit over andreceive the upper end of the stem Ill. The side flaps 36 have'eyelets orrings 39 securely stitched thereto so thatalacing cord 40 may be passedthrough the eyelets and underneath lugs 41 secured to each of 'theribs'5. The lacing cord 4i thus serves to stretch the skin tightly over theframework. The rear flap 31 is provided with female snap fastenersdesigned to engage the lugs 42 secured to the inside of the upper crossmember 2? of the stern frame. In order to stiffen the skin between theribs of the framework I provide a series of longitudinal reinforcingslats 43 which I secure to the'inside of the skin by stitching theminside of pockets 44. In order that the skin may be collapsed 1 dividedthereinforcing slats 43 longitudinally in three sections as is mostclearly illustrated at #35 in Figs. 1- and 6. The

longitudinal reinforcing slats 43 are of course shaped and located onthe skin to conform to the shape of the boat and support the skinbetween the transverse ribs 9. When the skin-is removed from-the frameit may be folded and rolled trans- 4-6 :are'provided with short,longitudinally extending slats '4'! which are stitched in pockets 48 ontheflaps and arranged to lie between adjacent longitudinal slats 43 andbridge the folding section 45 of the skin. The slats 48 are long enoughto have their-ends supported by the two adjacent ribs 9 so that the skinis longitudinally supported throughout its entire length. In collapsingthe skin the flaps 46 are folded away from the sections 45 of the skinso that the entire skin may be folded as previously described.

The oar locks 8 illustrated in'Fig. 10 consist of an upper bar 49which'is secured to the gunwale by the U-shaped hooks 50. The upper bar49 carries an angle fixture 5i on which the socket 52 is formed forreceiving the pin of the oar. A bolt 53 extends downwardly from theupper bar 49 to a lower bar 54 arranged to engage the under side of anytwo adjacent lugs 4| on the rib members 9 to draw the oar lock tightlydown on the The ends of the lower bar .54 are notched as at 55 to fitbetween the adjacent ribs 9.

I havethus described a highly practical commercial embodiment of my boatand it should be understood that I intend this description as an exampleonly and not as definitive of the limits of my invention. Obviously thedetails of the connections between my frame members and V gunwale beltscould be altered without departing from the theory of my invention andmy framework could be used with a modified form of skin or the skincould be used on a modified form of framework.

Having thus described my inventionwhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: l 1. A collapsible boat including aframework anda skin, said framework comprising a plurality of differentsized U-shaped rib members, a rigid stern frame, a rearwardly curvedstem, a

v keel belt of flexible relatively inelastic character permanentlyconnected to the underside of the center of said ribs and the front ofsaid stem and rear of said stern frame, a tubular flexible gunwale belthaving pockets secured to the sides thereof, said pockets beingpermanently secured to the tops of said ribs, said belt being secured tosaid stem and said stern frame, interlocking sectional gunwale slatsdisposed in said gunwale belts "and a folding keel member interlockinglyengaging said stem and said stern frame to extend said keel belt andframe, said skin comprising a 2 said skin and bridge said foldingsections of said skin between adjacent ribs of said framework. 2. Acollapsible boat including a framework and a skin, said frameworkcomprising a plurality of U-shaped rib members, a rigid stern frame,

, a rearwardly curved stem, a keel belt of flexible characterpermanently connected to the center of said ribs and the front of saidstem and rear of said stern frame, tubular flexible gunwale beltspermanently secured to the tops of said ribs, to

said stem and to said stern frame, said tubular belts being open at therear ends thereof, sectional gunwale slats disposed in said gunwalebelts and being removable through the open ends of said belts, and afolding keel member interlockingly engaging said stem and said sternframe to extend said keel belt and frame, said skin comprising a fabricbody shaped to fit around said frame, a plurality of longitudinalreinforcing slats secured to the inside of said skin, said reinforcingslats being divided in longitudinal sections along transverse foldinglines of said body, and reinforcing flaps secured to said skin andarranged to fold across the folding lines of said body, said reinforcingflaps having other slats secured thereto to lie between adjacentreinforcing slats in said skin and bridge said foldring sections of saidbody between adjacent ribs of said framework.

3. A collapsible boat including a framework and a skin, said frameworkcomprising a plurality of U-shaped rib members, a rigid stern frame, arearwardly curved stem, a keel belt of flexible character permanentlyconnected to the center of-said ribs and the front 'of said stem andrear of said stern frame, tubular flexible gunwale belts permanentlysecured to the tops of said ribs, to

said stem andto said stern frame, said tubular V belts being open at therear ends thereof, sectional gunwale slats disposed in said gunwalebelts and being removable through the open ends of said belts, and afolding keel member interlockingly engaging said stem and said sternframe to extend said keel belt and frame, said skin comprising a fabricbody shaped to fit' around said frame and a plurality of longitudinalreinforcing slats secured to the inside of said skin, said reinforcingslats being divided in longitudinal sections along transverse foldinglines of said body.

4. A collapsible boat including a framework and a skin, said frameworkcomprising a plurality of U-shaped rib members, a stern frame, a stem, akeel belt of flexible character permanently connected to intermediateportions of said ribs and to said stem and to said stern frame, tubularflexible gunwale belts permanently secured to the tops of'said ribs tosaid stem and to said stern frame, sectional gunwale slats disposed insaid gunwale belts and a folding keel member interlockingly engagingsaid stem and said stern frame to extend said keel belt and frame, saidskin comprising a fabric body shaped to fit around said frame, aplurality of longitudinal reinforcing slats secured to said skin, saidreinforcing slats being divided in longitudinal sections alongtransverse folding lines of said body, and reinforcing flaps secured tosaid skin and arranged to fold across the folding lines of said body,said reinforcing flaps having other slats secured thereto to lie betweenadjacent reintubular flexible gunwale belts permanently secured to saidribs to said stem and to said stern frame, sectional gunwale slatsdisposed in said gunwale belts and a folding keel member interlockinglyengaging said stem and said stern frame to extend said keel belt andframe, said skin comprising a fabric body shaped to fit around saidframe and a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing slats secured to saidskin, said reinforcing slats being divided in longitudinal sectionsalong transverse folding lines of said body.

6. A frame for a collapsible boat comprising, a plurality of U-shapedribs graduated in size to determine the shape of the boat, a stem havinga rearwardly turned keel extension, a stern frame, a keel belt ofnon-elastic flexible material secured to the center of said ribs todetermine the maximum spacing of said ribs, the rear of said keel beltbeing secured to the back of said stern frame, the front of said keelbelt being secured to the front of said stem and arranged to underlysaid keel extension, nonelastic flexible gunwale belts of tubularconstruction extending along the tops of said ribs and stern frame andsecured to said stem below the top thereof, pockets secured to theinside of said tubular belts and permanently receiving the upper ends ofsaid ribs, the rear ends of said belt being secured to said stern frameand dc zfiningiopenings thereat, sectional gunwale' members ,havinginterlocking engagement between 'thex sections thereof and ,positionedin said tubular belts, lugs;v projecting from the insides of said ribsbelow the topsthereof and-adaptedto engage ailacing cordto securea skinto: said frame, a vertically folding keel having interlocking engagementwith' said stern frame and the rear of said keel extension, andbraces-extending from the sides of said stern frame and're- -movablysecured'to the top of said keel forframe, a keel belt of non-elasticflexible material secured to the center of said ribs to determine themaximum spacing of said ribs, the rearof said keel belt being secured tothe back of said stern frame, the front of said keel belt being securedto the front'of said stem and arranged to underly saidkeel extension,non-elastic flexible gunwale belts of tubular construction extendingalong the topsof said ribs and stern frame and secured to said stembelow the top thereof, pockets secured to the inside of said tubularbelts and permanently receiving the upper ends of said ribs, the rearends of said belt being secured to said stern frame and definingopenings thereat, sectional gunwale members having interlockingengagement between the sections thereof and positioned in said tubularbelts, a vertically folding keel having interlocking engagement with .,akeel belt of non-elastic flexible material secured to said ribs todetermine the maximum spacing of said ribs, the rear of said keel beltbeing secured to said stern frame, the front of said keel belt beingsecured to said stem, a flexible gunwale belt of tubular constructionextending along the tops of said ribs and stern frame,

, and secured to said stem, pockets secured to said tubular belt andreceiving the upper ends of said ribs, the rear ends of said belt beingsecured to said stern frame, sectional gunwale members havinginterlocking engagement between the sections thereof and removablypositioned in said tubular belt and a folding keel having interlockingengagement with said stern frame and the rear of said keel extension.

9. Aframe for a collapsible boat comprising, a plurality of U-sh-apedribs, a stem having a rearwardly turnedkeel extension, a stern frame, a

plurality of belts of flexible material secured to said ribs todetermine the maximum spacing of said ribs, the rear of said belts beingsecured to said stern frame, the front of said belts being secured .tosaid stem, one of said belts being of tubular construction, one end ofsaid tubular belt defining an opening thereto and a sectionallongitudinal stiffening member having interlocking 8 engagement betweenthesections thereof and re- .movably positioned in said tubular belt.

10. A; skin for covering the frame of a collapsible-boat comprising abody of waterproof fabric shapedtoaconform to the shape of said frame, a

pocket formed at the top of the prow of said :body and arranged toreceive the stem of said .frame,-- aplurality of transversely spacedlongitudinally extending pocket forming pieces stitched to the inside ofsaid body, said pocket forming pieces being divided into longitudinalsections alongtransverse folding lines of said body, sectionallongitudinal slats permanently secured in said pocket forming members,reinforcing flaps secured to the inside of said body-andarranged to befolded across the folding lines thereof, reinforcing slats permanentlystitched in said reinforcing flaps and arranged. to lie betweentransversely adjacent slats in, said body and bridge the space betweenadjacent longitudinal sections of said longitudinal slats.

11. A skin for covering the frame of a collapsible boat. comprising abody of fabric shaped to conform to the shape of said frame, a pluralityof transversely spaced longitudinally extending pocket forming piecessecured to the inside of said body, said pocket forming pieces beingdivided into longitudinal sectionsalong transverse folding lines of saidbody, sectional longitudinal slats secured in said pocket formingmembers, reinforcing flaps secured to the inside of said body andarranged to be folded across the folding lines thereof, reinforcingslats secured in said reinforcing flaps and arranged to liebetweentransverse- 1y adjacent slats in said body and bridge the space betweenadjacent longitudinal sections of said longitudinal slats.

12. A skin for covering the frame of a collapsible boat comprising abody of waterproof sheet material shaped to conform to the shape of saidframe, a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally, extendingpocket forming pieces secured'to said body, said pocket forming piecesbeing divided into longitudinal sections along transverse folding linesof said body, sectional longitudinal slats secured in said pocketforming members, reinforcing flaps secured to the inside of said bodyand arranged to be folded across the folding lines thereof, reinforcingslatssecured in said reinforcing flaps and arranged to lie betweentransversely adjacent slats in said body and bridge the space betweenadjacent longitudinal sections of said longitudinal slats.

MARVIN D. WAYNE.

7 REFERENCES CITED ,The following references are of record in the fileof thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

